2 days ago
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DAVAO CITY, Philippines – Vibing in the rhythm, duo rappers Shirba and Datu Ila shouted these lines: “‘Wag ka magbingi-bingihan, ‘di ka na gusto ng bayan. ‘Yong taong trinaydor mo ang tunay naming kailangan (Do not act like you are deaf, the nation no longer likes you. The one you betrayed was the one we really need).”
Then a loud cheer erupted from the massive crowd of Davaoeños on Recto and Roxas Avenues on Friday, March 28.
Based on the count of the local police, as of 7 pm on Friday, around 60,000 Davaoeños took to the streets to celebrate former president Rodrigo Duterte’s 80th birthday, and at the same time call for his release from detention. Supporters claimed the crowd reached over a hundred thousand.
The rap lines were obviously a swipe at incumbent President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a former ally of the Dutertes, whose administration allowed the arrest of the former president. Duterte was turned over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands, on the strength of an arrest warrant for his crimes against humanity case.
“Tinuring mong kaibigan, isinukli sa ‘yo ay kaso…. Binigyan mo ng tiwala, binigyan ka ng posas (You treated him like a friend, he had you charged in return. You gave him your trust, he gave you handcuffs in exchange),” the song continued.
There were times that the green-painted crowd would call Marcos names, like “bangag” (high on drugs), the term used by no less than Duterte when he started attacking Marcos in January 2024. But the performers and locals were not alone in their tirades against Duterte’s successor — even members of the Duterte family, along with local officials took the stage to hit Marcos.
“Marcos! You wouldn’t be there (in your place) if it weren’t for them (Davaoeños),” said former presidential son and now Mayor Sebastian Duterte in Cebuano. During his nearly 40-minute speech, there were times that Sebastian also made fun of Marcos’ stuttering speech.
“This Marcos is really acting like a Marcos…You were supposed to be outmoded already. You only won because our Vice President ran with you,” the mayor added.
During Davao City’s 88th founding anniversary on March 16, the current Mayor Duterte also slammed the President and reminded him of how the former president allowed the burial of the late dictator Ferdinand E. Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
‘Simple’ Duterte narrative
From 1 pm to nearly 11 pm, the thousands of supporters remained in the streets with their flaglets and green shirts. The crowd only started to disperse after Sebastian finished his nearly 40-minute speech. The event was a mash-up of Duterte’s birthday celebration, campaigning, and a platform to oppose Marcos.
A big cake made for Duterte was put on the stage situated at the intersection of the two avenues. It was a huge birthday party-like event as there were occasional performances from artists like Wency Cornejo, and the traditional singing of the “Happy Birthday” song for the former president. Led by Duterte family members and allies, the supporters lit their candles when they sang on cue with the rest of the crowd.
Because his siblings were away, Sebastian took the lead for their family on Friday, along with his nephews — Omar and Rodrigo II — who are both running in local races. The family members each took the stage and gave a message. Davao City 1st District Representative Paolo Duterte — who recently asked for travel clearance from the House of Representatives — was not in attendance.
Duterte’s closest allies, like former chief of staff Leoncio “Jun” Evasco, former budget secretary Wendel Avisado, and former land transportation franchising chief Martin Delgra also faced the supporters to not only call for their former principal’s return to the Philippines, but also to recall their fondest memories with Duterte.
Similar to their past messagings, the allies depicted Duterte as a personable politician by highlighting his outgoing and supposedly simple personality. Duterte’s former national police chief and now Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa recalled in his speech how they implemented their anti-drug campaign in Davao City, then later in the whole Philippines as part of their war against illegal drugs.
Witnesses like former police colonel Royina Garma testified how Duterte applied his Davao drug war template to the entire country and rewarded the cops for the killings. Another colonel, Edilberto Leonardo, seconded Garma’s revelation during the House of Representatives’ quad committee hearings.
For numerous times, Duterte’s long-time-aide-turned-Senator Christopher “Bong” Go reiterated how Duterte was “simple” in celebrating his past birthdays. The senator flashed some photos, showing Duterte celebrating his birthday inside hospitals, or with ordinary people.
FOR DUTERTE. Supporters gather in Davao City to rally and celebrate the 80th birthday of former president Rodrigo Duterte amid his detention in the Netherlands, on March 28, 2025. Manman Dejeto/Rappler“Tuwing birthday niya, nagtatago lang siya sa kuwarto niya, ayaw niya ng party, ayaw niya ng celebration. At parati niyang pinapapaalala sa akin, sabi niya, ‘Bong, sikreto lang tayo punta tayo sa mga cancer patients, punta tayo sa Smokey Mountain, punta tayo sa illegal settlers diyan.’ Diyan siya nag-party noon,” Go said.
(During his past birthdays, he would just stay in his room because he doesn’t like parties, celebrations. And he would always instead tell me, “Bong, let’s secretly go to cancer patients, to Smokey Mountain, to the illegal settlers there.” That’s where he spent his parties before.)
In Manila, Duterte supporters also held a rally to celebrate his birthday. But there was a counter-protest too against Duterte where his critics called for his conviction in the ICC.
“Happy, happy birthday! Sana’y mabulok ka na riyan! (We wish you rot in detention),” sang the families of drug war victims who gathered at Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila on Friday.
Duterte’s national drug war was said to have killed nearly 30,000 people, according to human rights groups tallies. This, and his so-called Davao Death Squad — the group of hired killers he allegedly used to carry out kill orders in Davao City — were both subject of the ICC proceedings.
Following his arrest that had been coursed through the Interpol, Duterte became the first former Philippine president and former Asian head of state to be arrested over crimes against humanity. Aside from questioning the legality of the arrest, Duterte supporters also use the humanitarian card to call for Duterte’s release because of his age.
Legal experts, however, have already said that Duterte’s arrest was legal and was done “by the book.” Former ICC judge Raul Pangalangan also noted that in terms of health concerns, The Hague jails “have excellent facilities” which can cater to Duterte’s medical needs in case the need arises.
Duterte’s arrest and races
The massive rally for Duterte coincided with the kickoff of local campaigns for the 2025 midterm elections. The Duterte-led Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod introduced its candidates from mayoralty down to the council races. Three of the Dutertes running for posts this year were present — Baste, Omar, Rodrigo II — except for the former president and son Paolo.
Duterte’s ICC arrest and the ongoing impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte are major external factors that could shape not just the politics in Davao City, but also nationwide.
These forces are being taken into account most especially because of how tight the races in Davao City are. Duterte, the patriarch, and his son Paolo are facing old-time political opponents: the Nograleses. Duterte’s former Cabinet secretary Karlo Nograles is up against him in the mayoral race, while prominent young lawmaker Migs Nograles Almario is challenging Paolo in the 1st District congressional race.
In the vice mayoralty race, Sebastian is facing his predecessor, former vice mayor Bernie Al-Ag.
Omar is also facing a tough enemy in the person of Javi Garcia Campos. The Garcias, like the Nograleses and Dutertes, are staple names in Davao City politics. Paolo’s son is facing Campos in the city’s 2nd District, which is considered the bailiwick of the Garcias.
At the national level, all eyes are also in Davao City because it belongs to the vote-rich Davao Region, where the Dutertes’ influence is still undeniable. This is important because national candidates rely on their allies at the local level to deliver votes for them in the national races. – with a report from Tatiana Maligro/Rappler.com
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